Dude...and I thought things were hard for me!

Some things I have learnt and shared over the years have surprised me.
Like the story I discovered back in 2007 of a guy called Martin Rinkert...more on him in a second.

Most people I have met have had moments when their life felt hard. 
Where they were tempted to give up whatever they originally thought was important, because it didn't seem to be going well or as well as planned. 
Everything from jobs, to marriages, to the Church they attend, or even Churches they have lead!

And then I discovered this story about Mr Rinkert.
He must have understood what 'hard' meant!

Martin Rinkert lived in the town of Eilenburg in Germany 350 years ago. 
The son of a poor coppersmith, he became a minister of his local parish in 1617. 
Just one year later, in 1618, the Thirty-Year War broke out and Eilenburg was caught right in the middle of it. In 1637, the plague that swept across the continent hit Eilenburg and it is recorded that over 50 people died each day. 
The man called upon to bury most of the corpses was Martin Rinkert. 
In all, over 8,000 people died, including Martin’s own wife, but his job was to keep on digging graves. His ministry spanned 32 years and all but the first and the last were overwhelmed by the great conflict that engulfed his town. 
It must have been tough for Martin Rinkert to be thankful in the middle of all this true hardship! 
But somehow he was…and he even managed to write this hymn?

Now thank we all our God
With heart and hands and voices;
Who wondrous things hath done,
In whom his world rejoices.

Now after reading that you must have some questions surely...
Was there something wrong with him and he liked misery?
Maybe there was someone forcing him to stay the course?
How did he keep going year after year?

In the middle of what we find 'hard' we need to find 'Him' just like Martin did.
Otherwise the 'hard' will drive us away.
And learning about Martin makes my troubles while important, seem a little less significant.

If you are facing something 'hard' right now, these words might help...
For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. 2 Corinthians 4:17 niv

Something to think about...